Instinct and fear [Wenatchee photography + design]

Below is my latest page, week no. 7, in what will eventually become a year-long book of messages/reminders I want to leave my daughters. Not sure how many of my readers are local to my town, but those of you who are will undoubtedly be caught up in the heartbreak this community is experiencing from the loss of one of our own children, Mackenzie Cowell, who disappeared Feb. 9, 2010. My very close friend, Stephanie Fry, was the photographer who had taken Mackenzie's senior photos and she has a bittersweet reminder on her site about the importance of photos. Although my daughters weren't close to Mackenzie, they attended the same school and are so shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of this young woman. In the aftermath of grieving, we've had lots of discussions about paying attention to your surroundings and heeding that inner voice that might be trying to protect you. It's a fine line, trying to teach your kids to be independent and "fearless", while also wanting them to not be gullible or susceptible to harm. RIP Mackenzie, the whole community mournes your loss.

Advice to my daughters, "Remember this" [Wenatchee photography and design]

I have three daughters. I always knew I wanted girls and it never occured to me I could have had boys. So it was a good thing it worked out this way! I am always trying to pass on things to them that they should know and so this year, when thinking about starting a personal project, I thought I could combine my photos and my words into some sort of message to them. My plan is to do one a week for the whole year and at the end of the year, have them made into a book and give them each a copy. The first six weeks are below and I'll keep posting them here as I do them.

 

Wenatchee Photographer: Nominated for Best of 2009

As much as I hate "OMG", OMG!!!! Just saw I was nominated in the "Dig the Design" -- Best of 2009 for Showit websites up against powerhouses like Jasmine Star (OMG, it's JAS-MINE ST-AR), Dane Sanders, Aaron Shintaku, Gail Werner, Brooke Snow, Gabriel Ryan, Jamie Delaine, J. Shipley, Leila Jones, LyraLyra, Promise Tangeman and Gareth Robins. These are blogs I READ. Amazing, awesome talented people doing good things. So, SO honored. So cool. Please vote for me, LOL, I am literally the little guy against these greats. Or, better yet, go check them out and be blown away by the talent!

Digital Photography collage: July, August, Septemper 2009

What's that saying? The hurried-er I go the behind-er I get? I am woefully behind on my monthly collage page. I have been doing these for 3 years now, one a month with a few favorite photos and a couple lines about what was going on at the time. Kind of a digital journal, although my plan is to have them bound into a book in 5 year increments. Here is July, August and September for 2009. As always, the whole collection can be seen in the gallery. I'll catch up and get back to doing one a month when the stories are still fresh in my head. Do you do any sort of storytelling using words and photos (or other art and words?) Do share!

Wenatchee photography + design: Love is in the air

I love all the pink and red and hearts and love and goodness that starts to show up around Valentines Day. Maybe it's the color combination? The sentiment, of course, but there is something else that draws me to it. I wanted to offer a few designs as prints, as well as on other merchandise, (t-shirts, cards, postcards, magnets, etc.), so have uploaded a couple of my recent illustrations where I normally sell prints. I'll continue to add to them as I create things. There are many options, sizes and products available, and most of them allow for customization of the text and color as well, to make it truly personal.

Also available is one of my earlier illustrations from last year, the "Just be you" butterfly print. More about it here.

A couple different variations below. They one on the left I am hanging in my house. All the members of my family contribute to my happiness so those are the names I used. On the right, my brother's family, consisting of all boys, save for my sister-in-law. On this one I included their beloved pets. Love this design, so versatile, fresh and modern. I also had the pink one, above right, made into beautiful square cards. Will photo and post those when they arrive.